Sunday, October 17, 2010

A new chapter begins for my dear friend....

This is a message of hope, determination and survival......

One of my oldest and dearest friends got the dreaded news of breast cancer this past week...When she called me Friday to share the news, I was amazed at her calm...her words of determination.... Her hope of early detection.....She is a long time friend of mine who has fought her way back from a heart condition and a near fatal car crash........ She is a fighter. Plain and simple. She is one of "ours"...She is a stitcher with no blog but reads MANY of your blogs and I know this because she constantly emails me and marvels at alot of YOUR works of art in cross stitching... (**Hey Barbara, I know you are reading this post and I am smiling with you...**)

This news set my mind in motion....With my MIL having been a breast cancer survivor of 20 years and now my good friend facing the fight of her life, I knew it was time for me to begin my Basket of Hope and Survival... My pink basket if you will... To honor those women who have been stricken of this cancer and the hope of one day there being a cure....

So I turned to one of my favorite designs by Blackbird Designs and a beautiful skein of "Fresh Raspberries" by Belle Soie and made my first little pillow to commemorate the belief I have that Barbara will fight and WIN. She WILL be a survivor and my hope, of so many others, that they too will find strength to overcome and persevere.

Blackbird Designs
Bluebird
Fresh Raspberries by Belle Soie

I know all of you will pray for Barbara.....hoping her surgery goes well.....hoping her doctors find the cancer in its early stages....and hoping she continues on her path of Hope and Survival! Good luck on the 26th Barbara...There is a whole world of cross stitchers out here pulling for you~~

Faye


41 comments:

Starry-eyed stitcher said...

Oh my. Please tell your friend she carries all my hopes and prayers with her. She's a fighter like you said - she has beaten everything else and she can beat this too. Love Irene xx

Mama Joan said...

I will be praying for your friend Barbara. Your pink pin pillow is also a very nice
tribute.

Cathy B said...

Sending prayers and best wishes to your friend.

BeckySC said...

Dear Faye, please let Barbara know she will be added to our prayer list along with the prayer warriors I know from several different churches. She will be lifted up by MANY believers!!.
Your BBD piece is BEEutiful.
(((hugs)))

Myra said...

You know I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers. I love your pink basket idea - very inspiring and your BBD pillow is gorgeous.

Cindy's Stitching said...

I prayed for you Barbara, yes looking at my computer screen I prayed up to god for you. I wish you a speedy recovery. Love the pillow Faye.

Karen said...

keeping Barbara in my prayers! what a lovely tribute you made with the gorgeous pillow! (((hugs)))

Tommye said...

Definitely will add Barbara to my prayer list. Fight on, Barbara! We're with you.

valerie said...

Best wishes to Barbara. Hang in there...we're pulling for you.

Gladys Creativa said...

Oh Fay... your history is so hard, I'm really so sorry, I've lost my father by cancer two weeks ago...
I'm sure your friend will win the figth, you'll keep the faith in God!
My best wishes for your firned Barbara!

Margaret said...

Faye, I will be praying for Barbara and for you as well. One of my best friends, also a stitcher, went through her own battle with breast cancer earlier this year and is now cancer free. I pray that Barbara will be cancer free like my friend. I love the piece you made as a tribute.

Diana said...

Hope your friend wins her fight with breast cancer just as your mother did!

Bertie said...

Best wishes for your friend Faye, it must have been a shock for her to hear the news.

CalamityJr said...

What a good friend Barbara has in you. I will definitely add her to my prayers. And your pink basket is a wonderful reminder - every time you look at it, you'll be reminded to send up a thought for current fighters, survivors, and their families.

Sylvia said...

Most of the battle is fought mentally, and it sounds like your friend has got it licked already. You seem just as determined to fight right along side her. No doubt that between the two of you the cancer does not even stand a chance. Sending a prayer your way.

Unknown said...

Prayers being said for your friend Barbara. As one battling breast cancer, I can attest to the positive affect prayers have. I feel them carrying me along the way!!

Catherine said...

What a lovely thing to do!! Thanks for sharing and many thoughts and prayers to Barbara and her family!

Christine said...

I am a new follower to your blog (and by the way, I love it :o). So sorry to hear that your friend is facing yet another challenge. Life can be so unfair ... but, her courage through adversity is to be admired. She will be in my prayers. Wishing your friend and her family all the best during this trying time.

BTW - love what you have so quickly stitched together. Another beautiful piece that is a great tribute to your friend and her battle.

Karen said...

So sorry to hear about your friend but knows she will make a full recovery....sounds like she is a fighter! Love your basket idea...beautiful finish.

Patty C. said...

Prayers to you Barbara
We will be thinking of you :)

Deborah said...

My prayers are with Barbara and for a full recovery.

Jan said...

Prayers being said and hope in abundance for your friend, dear Faye! Please do let us know the results of her surgery...I would like to keep her close in prayer during this time.

It is a perfect little pillow, stitched and filled with perfect love...yours!

hugs to you!

Lainey said...

Beautiful little tribute pillow for your dear friend. Sending Barbara hugs and prayers.

JillMN said...

I'll be praying for your friend, Barbara. I love your first pink finish.

Jennifer said...

Said a prayer for you Barbara!

Faye..... I love your "pink basket" idea. It is amazing how much strength we can gather from our stitching and our stitching friends. I thank God every day for all of you!

MoonBeam said...

This is my first time visiting your great blog. Funny how things work. I just wanted to let you know that I am a thirteen year survivor. Also, I have said a prayer for your friend, Barbara.

I like your idea of a pink basket.

Denise said...

Faye you are a wonderful friend to have Barbara is blessed to have you! My thoughts and prayers go out to her.

Denise

Jackie's Stitches said...

Barbara, we're all thinking of you and sending you wishes for a quick return to good health.

Faye, I know you'll be a comfort and support to Barbara especially during the coming weeks.

Anonymous said...

I will put her name on our prayer rolls. I watched my aunt fight breast cancer three times over 12 years, and she won. Your friend is lucky to have such great support from you!

Karol said...

Sending prayers for your friend!

Theresa said...

Best wishes to your friend!!!! Take care!!!

Jeanne said...

God bless your friend Faye. I have known several people who have been down this road and I pray Barbara will have a successful recovery. We'll all be pulling for her!! I know having friends like is going to be a tremendous help to her. Love your finish and it helps to put our hands to work when we are anxious and worried. {{hugs}}

Siobhán said...

Faye, as I said to you privately, Barbara is in my prayers! I go to the cathedral every morning to pray, and I lit a candle for her this morning as I will continue to do. Sending you big hugs, too; I know how hard it is to watch your loved ones struggle with health issues.

As always, your stitching is incredible!

Robin said...

I love the pillow, what a pretty tribute to your friend.
Barbara, I have said a prayer for you and will continue doing so. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

BrendaS said...

My thoughts and prayers are with your friend on her upcoming battle.

The BD pillow is just beautiful and I'm sure will be the start of many more beauties!

Thanks for sharing

Kathy said...

Your BBD pillow is a wonderful tribute to your friend. I will keep her in my prayers.

Nancy said...

My thoughts are with your friend, and best wishes to her to conquer yet another obstacle. Your pillow is lovely.

Sherry :o) said...

I am sorry to hear of your friend, Faye, it's never easy to hear this news from someone you love. My thoughts are with your friend, but also with you - for you need prayers and thoughts too so that you may remain a light in her life as she fights this battle. Hugs to both of you!

Lois said...

What a sweet pillow. Thoughts and prayers for your friend Barbara.

Lisa Powers said...

Thanks for your beautiful words about Mom! Funny that the piece you picked has a bird on it because I always say that mom is a "tough 'ol bird"!!! She is so lucky to have you as a friend & she loves you so much!

reinaknitsbythefire said...

Hi Faye~~love your pink bird tribute for Barbara.
May I say I am sending healing prayers to your beloved friend.
I am a cervical cancer survivor of 34 yrs. I have a pacemaker for 2 yrs now (as my heart stopped one day with no heart history.
Life is a GIFT everyday! May Barbara be blessed with many more days.
Us stitchers sew many things while we are stitching one is prayers, love and warm wishes.
Hugz and love to you Faye, Barbara & her family too.
I will keep the prayers flowing.
Love from reina~reinaknits (Las Vegas)